DA sees stable supply, prices of agri commodities in December
PNA
MANILA – Consumers may enjoy stable supply and prices of agricultural commodities this December despite the slight increase in food inflation to 3.5 percent in November, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that while food inflation has slightly increased from 3 percent in October, rice inflation incurred a significant drop to 5.1 percent from 9.6 percent – a lowering trend that may be sustained.
“If international rice prices continue to ease, the peso remains stable, and tariffs stay low, we would most likely see the price of well-milled rice decline further in the coming months,” he said.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, likewise, mentioned a stable supply by the year-end.
“This December, iyong supply natin for rice, maganda iyong volume natin. I-expect natin na bababa iyong local production, iyong import natin nasa (we have a good volume for our rice. We can expect a decline in local production but our import is at) 4.5 million metric tons,” he said in an interview, citing more than 100 days of national stock inventory by the year-end.
Besides these, he also highlighted the continuous implementation of government interventions including the Rice for All and P29 program.
The Rice for All program refers to the sale of PHP40 per kilogram of mixed local and imported well-milled rice to the general public; while the P29 program is the sale of aging but good quality stocks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice worth PHP29/kg to members of the vulnerable sector including senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and solo parents.
For vegetables, which is considered one of the main drivers in the November food inflation – increasing to 5.9 percent from -9.2 percent following the effects of successive typhoons – De Mesa said consumers can expect easing prices within the month.
“Last week hanggang (until) this week, nakikita na natin iyong pagbaba ng presyo ng gulay. So, we can expect na bababa ang presyo at saka yung epekto ng vegetable sa (we are seeing a drop in vegetable prices. We can expect further decline in prices and its effects on) inflation for December,” he said.
De Mesa also reported easing prices in select vegetables following retail price elevation after the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) to Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi).
“Immediately after the typhoon, iyong kamatis (the tomatoes) from PHP80 last month, noong time na iyon naging (that time it hit) PHP220. Last week naging (it became) PHP200, early this week PHP180, ngayon (now it’s around) PHP150, PHP160. So, nakita natin malaki iyong pagbaba (So, we saw a big drop in prices),” he said.
The DA official said the positive adjustment is being led by the back-to-normal transport of highland vegetables following logistics resumption in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan, and Nueva Ecija, among others.
Recovery of low-land vegetable production is also underway, he added.
De Mesa, meanwhile, attributed the accelerated inflation in meat to the continuous effects of African swine fever (ASF) and the increasing demand during the holiday season.
“Starting noong “ber” season, marami na iyong orders for lechon at hamon (this ‘ber’ season, we have increasing orders for roasted pig and ham),” he said.
He, however, reiterated a stable supply of livestock and poultry following assurance from major stakeholders.
